Anderson was selected Monday as The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.

The halfback rushed for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Denver Broncos after taking over for injured Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary.

''Oh, wow, I'm kind of speechless right now,'' Anderson said when informed he beat Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis in the balloting, 40 votes to 10. ''That award, that just sums it up what kind of season it has been.''

The postseason was much kinder to Lewis, who rushed for 110 yards on 30 carries Sunday as Baltimore beat Denver. Anderson was held to 40 yards on 15 carries by the Ravens' stingy defense. But the rookie voting just covers the regular season.

Last year's winner was Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James. Anderson is the first Broncos player to win the award.

Davis, like Anderson, was selected in the sixth round of the draft, although Anderson's college career at Utah was slightly more accomplished than Davis' at Georgia. And Gary, who replaced Davis in 1999 when Davis tore up his knee, was a fourth-round choice out of Georgia who gained 1,159 yards as a rookie. Anderson shattered that team record this season.

Anderson, 27, quit his high school football team during preseason drills his freshman year after a coach tried to convert him into an offensive lineman. Instead, he played drums and marched in the band in Fairfield, S.C.

After graduation, he spent four years in the Marines, where he took up football again. Then came two years of junior college and two years at Utah. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards all four seasons.

''I'm just happy right now. Wow, I'm so thankful. I'm still shaking inside.''

Williams still hobbled

NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans running back Ricky Williams is doubtful for the Saints' second playoff game Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Williams broke a bone in his ankle on Nov. 12 against the Carolina Panthers and has not played since.

Coach Jim Haslett had hoped Williams might be available for the playoffs, but said on Monday he was not optimistic for Saturday's game.

''He's had a boot on for the last three days,'' Haslett said.

Former Rams star dies

LOS ANGELES -- Former Los Angeles Rams defensive back Woodley Lewis, who led the NFL with 12 interceptions as a rookie in 1950, has died of kidney and heart problems, his wife said. He was 76.

Lewis, who died Friday in a Los Angeles hospital, played with the Rams from 1950-55 before being traded to the Chicago Cardinals. He also played with the Dallas Cowboys before finishing his career in 1961.

''Not only was he an excellent football player, he was an authentic human being and a great community leader once he left football,'' former teammate Dan Towler said Monday.

''He gave a lot of his time to youth organizations in South Central Los Angeles, and left his mark.''

During Lewis' six years with the Rams, he was also a kick returner as well as a defensive back. Between 1950 and 1960, he gained 1,026 yards on punt returns. Only one man had more punt return yardage during that time -- Hall of Famer Emlen Tunnell.

Lewis, a graduate of the University of Oregon, also played at wide receiver and running back in his NFL career. He caught 123 passes for 1,885 yards and 12 touchdowns during his career.